Peter Hannam, Leesha McKenny
New Planning Minister Rob Stokes has flagged an overhaul of the way large mining projects win approval, signalling that the community will be given greater opportunity to "test the decision".

Leesha McKenny
Many beachgoers lured to the coast by Sydney's balmy conditions were in for a treat on Saturday, with as many as 10 humpback whales turning out to mark the start of Sydney's whale-watching season.

Leesha McKenny
When Sydney swelters, not all suburbs suffer evenly. An environment dominated by built canyons of concrete and vast tracts of asphalt, devoid of trees and cooling winds, could be heating up its own...

Leesha McKenny
Harry Mitchell can list more than a dozen reasons why he disagrees with a state government report that branded his line of work costly and inefficient when it comes to protecting beachgoers from...

Leesha McKenny and Sarah Whyte
"If you see them in a bushfire, they go off like a bomb," said Clint Smart of an unlikely weapon that found its way into firefighters’ arsenal in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.

Leesha McKenny, Amanda Hoh, Sarah Whyte
Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters in the Blue Mountains town of Bilpin have criticised ''alarmist'' community alerts sent by its Lidcombe headquarters, which they say have been based on...